Desensitisation
is one of these words I keep seeing in llama books and, so far as I can tell,
it simply means "the llama allowing itself to be touched without protest".
This is something which is highly desirable for all parts of the animal as it
helps so much in, for example, nail-clipping, shearing, haltering, packing...
oh the list in endless. Do llamas like being touched? I'm not sure. Sometimes
I suspect they never really get beyond passive acceptance or tolerance. But really,
why should they like it? Camelids do not stroke each other .The mother does not
even lick the newborn cria!

My method for desensitising has always been this:

It
is best to work somewhere where the llama cannot be disturbed by others. The catch
pen is probably the best, but I never feel the need to tie.

I
handle those parts that are already acceptable as often as I can and gradually...
maybe over a period of weeks... work along to the sensitive areas, with much praise
and frequent treats, so that the entire process becomes as pleasurable to the
animal as possible.

It's the VERY sensitive areas which are the problem and this is where I play my
"Statue Game". (I borrowed the name from Jim Krowka of Lost Creek Llamas.)
It has convinced many-a-person looking over the fence that I am completely and
incurably eccentric...for it goes something like this:

Putting
my hands on, or perhaps actively handling a sensitive part, such as the ears or
under the tail, I begin to recite the words "Quite still". Initially,
I'll probably only get the "Qu.." of "Quite" out, before the
llama shifts, but this small moment of stillness is rewarded. (It is hard using
a clicker with your hands full of llama, so I quite often "click" with
a vocal signal followed by the treat.)

"Quite
still!!"

Gradually,
over maybe fifty steps, I'll repeat the exercise in exactly the same spot, each
time asking for a little longer stillness before the reward is given. As things
progress, I ask the llama to freeze and hear "Quite Still" for a slowly
increasing number of times before the click sounds. Get me?

But
there is one thing I should say: from my experience with my own llamas and from
what other owners (at least the more honest of them!) have told me, there are
animals out there who are so sensitive to having certain parts of their bodies
(usually rear feet or heads) handled, that it is extremely time-consuming attempting
it. I have found this with David's head.. and I must have worked at it, over the
years, for hundreds of hours. I only persevere because it interests me and there
has been no sign of it souring our relationship. But really, for someone who has
less time to devote to training than I have, it would be impractical to work at
a "David" problem unless there was special reason for needing to touch
his head. Haltering can replaced by neck-collaring in most situations.

If you can add anything
to my work or have any questions or comments, please
e-mail me.

This isn't so much a
desensitization exercise as a duration one. But I've been playing the
Statue Game with my alpaca on a dailly basis to see how many "Quite
Stills" I can recite before he ends the game by jiffling. I reached
thirteen today without him interrupting, though I can hear the regurgitation
in his neck as he prepares for the spit. Charming! Any interruption or
spittingresults in my just walking away. If he stands still until the
click, he gets pony nuts. I vary the timing a lot, sometimes just clicking
after two or three "Quite Stills"..but as I say, I've reached
thirteen now. I think he's learning the rules!

HOW WE'RE
DOING

April 2010
: The story so far: I can touch Dillon and Thomas anywhere now. David remains
extremely head-shy but is fine elsewhere. Mary-Ann, an animal that would kick
me if I tried to handle her in the first four years I had her (and on whom I gave
up) will allow me to handle anywhere except h.er back legs, though this is coming
. Oscar and Toby can be handled anywhere but their back legs, but I'm working
at it! Maggie, whom I've had since Nov 07 as a potential driving llama is still
difficult. I tend not to work with her as it's an uphill climb and neither of
us enjoy it.